Closing the Gap

Closing the Gap aims to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

In 2008, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) set targets aimed at eliminating the gap in outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

In December 2018, COAG committed to forming a genuine formal partnership with Indigenous Australians to finalise the Closing the Gap Refresh and provide a forum for ongoing engagement throughout implementation of the new agenda. The partnership will be based on mutual respect between parties and an acceptance that direct engagement and negotiation is the preferred pathway to productive and effective outcomes.

COAG also released a draft Closing the Gap framework, including draft targets, accountabilities and reporting requirements as a basis for further discussion with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples and communities.

The draft targets consist of new and existing targets and are in the priority areas of: health, education, employment, families, children and youth, health, economic development, housing, justice and land and waters.

It is proposed that important issues such as racism, discrimination and social inclusion, healing and trauma, and the promotion of culture and language for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that impact across all target areas will be addressed as cross system priorities.

During 2019, the refreshed Closing Gap framework and associated draft targets will be agreed through the formal partnership between the Commonwealth, state and territory governments and Indigenous Australians through their representatives for endorsement by COAG.

Real change will come through community-led, place-based solutions that engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to pursue their own visions of what makes for a good life, to be healthy, prosperous, and secure.

Progress against targets set in 2008 is outlined in annual Closing the Gap reports. The 2019 Closing the Gap report marks the final report against the Closing the Gap framework established in 2008.